Laser Hair Removal – Pre & Post Treatment Care Tips
Do you get thick hair soon after you remove it ? Painful to get the hair waxed ? Embarrassed to go out with the thick hair and pigment patches on skin ? Your not alone in this, take that first step towards ease and better management of unwanted hair.
Laser hair removal in Bangalore (LHR) is a safe effective way to manage hair in a better way
What is Laser Hair Removal (LHR)?
Laser hair removal is a procedure that removes and reduces the growth of unwanted hair. This treatment involves a machine that uses light to reach the root of the hair and zap it.
The light, when targeted on specific areas, is absorbed by melanin – the pigment that gives hair and skin their color. The absorbed light damages the hair follicles. The damaged follicles are then incapable of producing new hair. Laser hair removal takes multiple sessions to show noticeable results.since all hair is not in the same stage of hair cycle . Some have black bulb or Anagen hair which gets zapped by laser , the hair with no bulb or catagen hair and telogen hair which has a white bulb.
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Things You Should Prepare Before The Treatment
Before you undergo this treatment procedure, you must prepare your body to ensure the treatment is effective. Here are some of the recommended measures you should undertake before you walk in for the procedure.
Review Medical History
Just like every other medical treatment, your doctor will ask you for an overview of your medical history. You may have certain conditions that the laser can interfere with. The doctor may even assess the health of your skin, look into previous conditions or dermatological procedures that you may have undergone.
Discuss Risks
A session with your doctor can enlighten you on the risks associated with undergoing laser therapy for hair removal. It is essential that you have real expectations from your LHR session. Skin irritation and changes in pigmentation can occur as side effects to LHR. Get a clear picture of the benefits, side effects and estimated sessions to get your desirable results.
Stop Plucking or Waxing
Laser hair removal targets the follicles of the hair. For an effective treatment, hair must be present in the follicles to absorb the heat targeted by the laser. Removing the hair from the follicle will leave no means for heat to be absorbed, therefore leaving no scope for heat transfer. Thus avoid plucking, epilating or threading to have an effective session.
- Bleaching is a contraindication and laser hair removal cannot be done when the hair is bleached
Avoid Sun Exposure
Before the scheduled date of your appointment and during the sessions , you must avoid sun exposure at . Sun damage can cause your skin to get sensitive and you may experience adverse effects when it gets exposed to lasers. Skin experts do not recommend getting laser therapy with the slightest of sunburns.
Clean the Area Thoroughly
The area of laser treatment should be thoroughly cleaned prior to the appointment. Your skin should not have any amount of makeup, moisturiser, lotion or ointment. The ingredients in those products can react with the laser.
Prep the Area by Shaving
The only methods of hair removal allowed before you go in for lasers is shaving it’s best to let the doctor see the growth to analyse the hair and the energy required . In between sessions if there is a requirement to remove hair , it’s best to shave it .
Since it does not interfere with laser therapy since the root of the hair is still present underneath the skin.
Things You Should Prepare After The Treatment
Proper care needs to be taken when you are done with laser hair removal in Bangalore. Inadequate post-treatment care may not yield the desired results that you are looking for. Heat or exposure to sun increases chances of scarring, changes in skin tone as well as texture.
Stay Away From The Sun
When you are done with the treatment, your skin will be sensitive for a while. Direct sun exposure must be avoided to reduce chances of making the skin further sensitive. The best practice is to apply sunscreen at all times to reduce the probability of sunburn.
Avoid Applying Makeup Or Lotion
You may face irritation after the procedure. To keep the irritation to a minimum, you must keep the area clean and dry. Avoiding makeup, lotion or deodorant is a good way to keep further redness at bay.
Cleanse the Area
It is essential to clean the area of treatment with plain soap and water. Avoid scraping or rubbing the area of treatment for at least 4-5 days of getting the procedure done. Gently pat and dry the skin to minimise abrasion on skin.
Refrain From Waxing, Threading, Tweezing
To achieve the best results without any complications, refrain from hair removal methods like plucking, waxing or tweezing even after the procedure. Shaving is allowed in the course of time between multiple sessions. However, do not resort to shaving immediately after a session.
Use Cold Compress for Red Bumps or Rashes
Laser hair removal may leave a few red bumps, or may even result in redness, irritation and blisters. Place a clean, cool and damp cloth on such areas to cool them down. This will also provide your skin some much-needed respite.
Laser hair removal (LHR) works best on people who have lighter skin tone and thicker hair growth. The newer technologies work even for dark skin and light hair .the procedure requires multiple sessions and is most effective during the active hair growth phase or Anagen.
laser hair removal is a medical procedure and not a cosmetic one, the decision on energy levels and the type of skin, post procedural care etc has to be clear before starting it .consult a dermatologist who is experienced in performing laser treatments.
Dr.Tina Ramachander is one of the best dermatologist in Bangalore and Medical Director at Dr.Tina’s Skin Solutionz, a skin care clinic in Bangalore. She completed her master’s in dermatology from the well acclaimed JJM Medical college in Karnataka and is now a practicising dermatosurgeon and Medical Cosmetologist in Bangalore.